NM cable staples

N

nizak

Senior Member
I’m certain this topic has been brought up before.

Can you secure more than 2 NM cables under a staple that only lists the cable sizes and not the # of cables ?

My question basically asks can 3 14/2 or 3 12/2 NM cables be fastened under one staple?

Thanks
 
I like using the super long stacking staples .

Technically it depends on what the instructions say which IMO is dumb. Let me, the one who is in the field and knows the conditions decide what fastener to use. Another nanny state thing making electricians mere installers.
 

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electrofelon said:
I like using the super long stacking staples .

Technically it depends on what the instructions say which IMO is dumb. Let me, the one who is in the field and knows the conditions decide what fastener to use. Another nanny state thing making electricians mere installers.
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Very few NM staples are UL (or other NTRL) listed. None of the manufactures I use are. Dottie, Ideal, GB, Viking, etc.

The cable sizes and quantities are just recommendations. These recommendations are also based on NM cables from 60+ years ago when the cables were much bigger.

Just get a plan box/bucket or bag. Dump you favorite staples in. Write Electrofelon brand NM staples. Use with X size and X quantity NM cables.
 
curt swartz said:
Very few NM staples are UL (or other NTRL) listed. None of the manufactures I use are. Dottie, Ideal, GB, Viking, etc.

The cable sizes and quantities are just recommendations. These recommendations are also based on NM cables from 60+ years ago when the cables were much bigger.

Just get a plan box/bucket or bag. Dump you favorite staples in. Write Electrofelon brand NM staples. Use with X size and X quantity NM cables.
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While I agree with the spirit of your post, I believe we are still technically subject to follow manufacturers instructions even if they are not listed or required to be listed. I like your idea of transferring to a different container 😇
 
electrofelon said:
While I agree with the spirit of your post, I believe we are still technically subject to follow manufacturers instructions even if they are not listed or required to be listed. I like your idea of transferring to a different container 😇
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Many of the manufactures are buying the product from factories in India, China etc. There is no testing by them. How is that any different fro us buying staples from another company and re boxing?

If the staples are listed or the manufactures were performing tests on them that is different.

If you really want to follow the manufactures instructions you need a 9/16" staple for a single 14/3. 1/2" staples only list single 14/2 and 12/2 cables. 14/3 cables used to be 1/2-5/8" in diameter. Now the are about 1/4" thick.

I have also not found any staples that list x/2/2 or x/4 conductor cables.

If we really need to follow the manufactures instructions they all need to get on the same page and use specs from modern cables.
 
curt swartz said:
Very few NM staples are UL (or other NTRL) listed. None of the manufactures I use are. Dottie, Ideal, GB, Viking, etc.

The cable sizes and quantities are just recommendations. These recommendations are also based on NM cables from 60+ years ago when the cables were much bigger.

Just get a plan box/bucket or bag. Dump you favorite staples in. Write Electrofelon brand NM staples. Use with X size and X quantity NM cables.
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That will have to change when the 2026 is adopted. All of the cable articles will require the use of listed supporting devices such as staples and there is no future date for when this rule takes effect.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
That will have to change when the 2026 is adopted. All of the cable articles will require the use of listed supporting devices such as staples and there is no future date for when this rule takes effect.
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Beat me to it. The relevant citation in the 2026 NEC Second Draft for NM cable:

334.2: The following items shall be listed and identified
. . .
(2) Cable ties, staples, straps, and hangers

Cheers, Wayne
 
I'm not even sure what they would use as a standard to list staples. The cable manufactures are not standardized on how they manufacture the cables.

Some manufactures make their XX/3 cables flat. Some still make them round. I believe Cerro makes their XX/2/2 cables flat but most other manufactures make them round. Some round cables have the conductors laid flat while others twist them.

The listing is probably just a way to double the price of the same product.

Try finding cable ties that are listed per the NEC requirements. The manufactures (especially Panduit) make it almost impossible to figure out. A few years ago I was trying to figure which Panduit models were listed. Panduit's reference material basically says you need to go to the UL site and look up the listing info. Even if you find the models that are listed they don't tell you what cables quantities they are listed for.
 
curt swartz said:
I'm not even sure what they would use as a standard to list staples. The cable manufactures are not standardized on how they manufacture the cables.

Some manufactures make their XX/3 cables flat. Some still make them round. I believe Cerro makes their XX/2/2 cables flat but most other manufactures make them round. Some round cables have the conductors laid flat while others twist them.

The listing is probably just a way to double the price of the same product.

Try finding cable ties that are listed per the NEC requirements. The manufactures (especially Panduit) make it almost impossible to figure out. A few years ago I was trying to figure which Panduit models were listed. Panduit's reference material basically says you need to go to the UL site and look up the listing info. Even if you find the models that are listed they don't tell you what cables quantities they are listed for.
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If you are talking about the listed for using cable ties to support flexible wiring methods, it is very simple. The ones listed for that use are marked Type 2S or 21S on the package.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
If you are talking about the listed for using cable ties to support flexible wiring methods, it is very simple. The ones listed for that use are marked Type 2S or 21S on the package.
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Don, the problem is it may be on the packaging but when I was looking a couple years ago Panduit was not including this info in the catalog. I seldom have packages to look at when ordering materials. That may of changed now. I haven't checked recently.
 
curt swartz said:
Don, the problem is it may be on the packaging but when I was looking a couple years ago Panduit was not including this info in the catalog. I seldom have packages to look at when ordering materials. That may of changed now. I haven't checked recently.
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Not sure about how they market their products.
 
curt swartz said:
Don, the problem is it may be on the packaging but when I was looking a couple years ago Panduit was not including this info in the catalog. I seldom have packages to look at when ordering materials. That may of changed now. I haven't checked recently.
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I would guess it's different now, the "S" designation for cable ties that are suitable for support is pretty new, I just started hearing about it in the last year.
 
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